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PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904.

J. E. SMITH.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 21, 1903.

3 SHBETS -SHEBT 1.

R0 MODEL.

No. 753,326. PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904.

' J. E. SMITH.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLIdATIOH FILED AUG. 21, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

No. 753,326. PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904. J. E. SMITH.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLIOATION PH -ED AUG. 21, 1903.

H0 MODEL. 3 SHEETSSHEET 3 1w: mamas PETiRS co. PuDTo-uTHo wasMlucTcN, u c.

UNITED STATES Patented March 1, 1904.

JAMES EIJIPHALET SMITH, OF FLATBUSH, YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,326, dated March 1, 1904.

Application filed August 21, 1903. $erial No. 170,299 (No model.)

efiiciency is desired without the usual disfigurement caused by ordinary fire-escapes.

The object of my invention is to provide a fire-escape which shall be normally out of sight, but adapted to be brought instantly into operative position when required by the actuation of simple releasing mechanism, preferably being under the control of suitable electricaldevices located at convenient parts of the building. v

One of the principal features of my invention is that when desired all the exits (win-- dows, &c.,) on at least one side of the building will be instantly provided with means of escape for the occupants of the building and that this will be effected by a single operation.

My invention consists, broadly speaking, of the combination of a fire-net and a plurality of flexible ladders reeled upon a shaft or drum located in a suitable housing at or near the roof of a building, together with means for retaining the ladders and net in reeled condition when not in use, and means for releasing the same when required, the ladders and net descending to or near the ground by gravity, avoiding all obstructions in their descent by an outward sweep. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.) I

The invention further consists in the spe cific construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general view of the front of a building fitted with my fire-escape, showing the relative proportions of the releasing cornice or housing and building when the fire-escape is reeled up ready for immediate use,the cornice or housing being closed. Fig. 2 is a general view of the front of the building fitted with my improve-- ment when the cornice has been opened and the fire-escape released, so that every point of egress has been provided with a quick and positive means of escape. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2, in which I have shown in dotted lines the course taken by my fire-escape in its derod or bar to which free ends of ladders are secured. Fig. 5 is a sectional'view on the line A B looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, showing the housing closed and the laddersand net reeled and ready for immediate use. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the same plane, showing the housing partly open and ladders and net being carried beyond center of gravity by a specially-constructed deflecting-lip on the lower end of hinged member of housing, thus providing for the outward sweep which I have shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the same plane, showing housing or hinged member fully open and the ladders and net taking an outward and downward course by gravity. Fig. 8 is a view of part of the shaft and flanges for receiving the ladders, showing springs which I may attach to the shaft and ends of the ladder nearest the same for the purpose of relieving said shaft from undue stress. caused by the ladder fetching up; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lower partof a building fitted with my improvement, showing the method of holding the ladders rigidly at a predetermined distance from the building by suitable tauteningbars and how I make use of same in supporting the life-net.

Referring to the drawings by letter, a is a stationary part of housing of any suitable construction or material, preferably that which I have shown, secured to the housev or wall I) in the usual manner and stiffened by ribs a placed at suitable intervals. a is the hinged member of the cornice or housing, also provided with stifieners a", placed at suitable intervals, representing brackets when cornice is closed.

0 is a jamb to receive hinged member of cornice a when closed.

d is a hinge the construction of which is to be determined by the amount of stress to which it may be subjected.

e is a latch, preferably electric, for holding hinged member of cornice in place when closed and releasing same when the circuit is completed by pushing button 6 which also causes bell e to ring. I may also supply means for causing bell e to ring continuously while'cornice is open, also means for cutting same off when desired, thus alarming occupants of building. I may also use a direct pull-wire f, led up by fair-leaders f from any convenient place in the building, as I have shown in Fig. 7

g is a bracket for supporting shaft g upon which are mounted flanges g directly over windows for receiving ladders.

it indicates steel-wire ropes, having one end fastened to rod 71 and the other to shaft g by springs h.

72, indicates metallic bars of suitable weight spaced about fourteen inches apart, connecting the two ropes h and forming the rungs of the ladder.

k is a continuous bar attached to the free ends of ladders and of sufficient weight to cause ladders to unreel and descend immediately upon being released by latch e. I will tap into the bar If near the ends for the purpose of mounting swivel-eyes 0, adapted to retautening-bars 19 consisting of round steel bars of suflicient cross-section turned up at one end for the purpose of engaging eyes 2,

located in the wall of building. I may attach rod-p to the outer end of the tautening-bars, as shown in Fig. 9, for the purpose of relieving the other parts of undue stress, as would be caused by a heavy body descending.

s is a net of any desired material, laced to the bar if at the rear, and to the two tautening-bars p at either end the rope t, of suflicient length, is used to further strengthen the net 8.

7c and are beveled gears, 76 being mounted on shaft g and 70 on a shaft 70 on the other end of which is a portable crank 76* for winding ladders upon shaft g between the flanges 9 I will provide a portable cover m for weather ends of shaft, as shown in Fig. 5, large enough to stow crank it" when detached, if so desired. If I find gears k and 70 cause too much friction, thus retarding the unreeling of ladders, I may throw them out of gear by drawing shaft k back far enough to disengage wheel 76 after ladders have been reeled upon shaft ready for use.

n is a lanyard for restoring hinged members of cornice to closed position, as shown in Fig. 5. Thislanyard passes through the wall b and between the ladders, passing over the bar If. As many of these may be provided as found necessary.

When the fire-escape has been released, either electrically or otherwise, and has descended as far as possible automatically, the tautening-bars 10 for securing rigidity and spreading the life-net are released or unfurled by unwinding the several turns of the ropes and opening the bars out as far as the ropes on the front of the net will allow and engaging the hooked ends of the bars 19 nearest the wall in the eyes previously arranged in said wall for the purpose. The same ropes s that were formerly used for furling are now hooked or made fast to some stationary object in the manner shown, so that they will exert a stress in opposite directions, thus serving the double purpose of hauling down the tauteningbars and stretching the net.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a fire-escape, the combination of one or more flexible ladders adapted to descend by gravity, and a life-net secured to the free ends of said ladders.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of one or more flexible ladders adapted to descend by gravity, a life-net secured to the free ends of said ladders and means for spreading said net.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination of arotating shaft or drum, two or more flexible supports wound thereupon, the free ends of said supports carrying a common transverse bar or rod, a life-net attached to said bar or rod, and means for spreading said net.

4:. In a lire-escape, the combination of a rotating shaft or drunntwo or more flexible supports wound thereupon, a transverse bar or rod attached to the free ends of said flexible supports, a life-net applied to said transverse bar or rod, locking and releasing means for said supports and attached parts, and 'means for spreading said net when in released position.

5. In a fire-escape, the. combination of asuitable housing preferably located at or near the roof of a building, a horizontal shaftmounted therein, a plurality of flexible ladders reeled upon said shaft, a rod or bar connecting all the ladders together at their free ends, a movable member or cover hinged to said housing and adapted when closed to support said rod or bar and retain ladders in reeled condition, a deflecting-lip carried by said hinged member or cover and a suitable releasing mechanism, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, this 5th day of August, A. D. 1903.

JAMES ELIPHALET SMITH.

Witnesses:

ALBERT C. LErrcn, EDWARD B. Common 

